Former leaders criticise 'lack of freedom'

Former presidents of the Czech Republic, Poland and South Africa have said Venezuela restricts individual freedom and "does not tolerate dissent and different thinking". Václav Havel, Lech Wa...#322;esa and FW de Klerk make the comments in an open letter released yesterday... the UN International Day for Human Rights. They also say that opponents of Hugo Chávez's presidency are persecuted and call for "guarantees for free expression and respect for human rights". Venezuela expelled two activists after they presented a report criticising Chavez's human rights record. AP Prague